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Program meeting draws big turnout
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REJOINING SOCIETY: Doris Primm addresses a group of faith-based agency leaders about the Access to Recovery program that helps criminals re-enter society after serving their sentences.
By KATIE SEMINARA
The Access to Recovery grant funding will end in two years, but Mahoning Valley organizations aim to extend service beyond the grant.
YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Alcohol and Drug Addiction Service Board had a larger showing than expected at the Access to Recovery meeting.
More than 40 individuals representing local service organizations attended Wednesday’s meeting with intentions of making Mahoning County a place where drug and alcohol recovery services are available to those with criminal justice backgrounds trying to re-enter the working world.
The ATR program is already established in Cuyahoga, Summit and Stark counties.
“We [ADAS] are very excited about this initiative because it opens the door for you to continue to do good work,” Jeff Magada, Mahoning County ADAS board president, told the group.
The meeting was the first step to getting organizations involved in ATR. Organizations must apply to be part of ATR, stating their service options and providing background checks of all employees.
Members of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services were on hand to provide education, and Alisia Clark, director of the ATR grant, said they are looking for agencies that offer recovery support and will help meet the three outcomes that ATR hopes to achieve:
UBeing sources for more people to access recovery services.
UProviding treatment choices.
UFocusing on reaching measurable goals.
“The grant is geared and centered around client choice,” said Clark. The clients using ATR can select what agencies they wish to receive services from to further the success of their recovery.
For someone to be eligible for service, he or she must be an adult, live in Mahoning County, have had involvement with the criminal justice system and had problems with drug or alcohol abuse.
The ultimate goal of ATR is even if the grant is not renewed after time has run out, ODADAS wants those clients benefiting from ATR to still have services available, said Clark.
“We are building a structure in Mahoning County that can be sustained outside of ATR. We want you to go beyond us,” said Clark to those hoping to provide recovery services.
And those in attendance agreed that pulling resources together through ATR will keep their services available in the future.
“We [ADAS] will work to make sure all of this doesn’t fall by the wayside,” said Mahoning County ADAS executive director Doris Primm, who hopes to keep the group supporting ATR together.
Paul Proctor from Building Bridges to Destiny was among those at the meeting. He said his organization would like to provide job placement services and job coaching.
“I think this is a phenomenal opportunity for people to receive services that are lacking,” he said of ATR’s expansion into Mahoning County.
Primm is working on setting up future meetings for those applying to be part of ATR and is still looking for other organizations and agencies to participate.
“We want to make sure everyone is on the same page and are providing all services needed in the community,” he said.
For more information, contact Primm at (330) 743-9509.